Outdoor crane

ABSTRACT

A crane having a bumper at each of its four corners traverses a runway having two bumpers at each end in line with the crane bumpers. Associated with each bumper is a coupler half with the coupler halves on the crane adapted to engage the coupler halves adjacent the bumpers at the ends of the runway. Means are provided on the crane to swing the crane coupler halves out of alignment with the bumper coupler halves during normal crane operation and to swing them back into alignment when it is desired to lock the crane from movement.

United States Patent 1191 Levitt. 1 1 Jan. 16, 1973 s41 OUTDOOR CRANE 566,398 8/1896 Hyde ..213/211 Inventor: Harold o. Levi, Pittsburgh Pa. 2,725,668 l2/l955 Bonanno ..46/40 [.73] Assignee: United States Steel Corporation Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman Assistant Examiner-Robert Saifer [22] Filed March 1970 Attorney-Martin J. Carroll [21] Appl. No.: 17,408

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..104/25l, 104/254 A crane having a bumper at each of its four corners [51] Int. Cl. ..B6lk 7/08 traverses a runway having two bumpers at each end in [58] Field of Search ..l04/249,250, 251, 254; line with the crane bumpers. Associated with each 293/69; 213/12, 16, 220, 221, 222, 223, 212 bumper is a coupler half with the coupler halves on the crane adapted to engage the coupler halves ad- [56] References Cited jacent the bumpers at the ends of the runway. Means are provided on the crane to swing the crane coupler. UNITED STATES PATENTS halves out of alignment with the bumper coupler 1,356,210 10 1920 Kinne ..213/220x halves during normal crane Operation and to s g 1,622,059 3/1927 Stockemer ....104/251 them back into alignment when it is desired to lock 1,897,362 2/1933 Daniels ...,2l3/2l1 the crane from movement. 3,349,926 10/1967 Cope ..2l3li6 3,388,928 6/1968 Poker et al. 5 Claims,7 Drawing Figures u'ulh 1"i"i 1"1 1 i 1 1"1 PATENTEDJAH 16 I975 SHEET 1 OF 3 FIG.

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' INVENTOR HAROLD 0. LEV/7T OUTDOOR CRANE This invention relates to outdoor cranes, particularly large cranes such as dock cranes, gantry cranes, ore bridges and coal bridges which are exposed to high winds. Such cranes travel on tracks which have bumpers at their ends and corresponding bumpers on the crane which prevent damage to the crane during normal operation. The cranes have large exposed areas and in high winds unattended cranes may be forced along the runway and up against the runway stops causing damage to the crane and/or building. Rail clamps and other means for securing cranes while permitting use of bumpers have been used, but they are not positive in action and/or are relatively complex in construction.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide anchoring means for cranes which permit use of the conventional bumpers.

Another object is to provide such apparatus which permits the crane operator to anchor or release the crane from the crane cabin.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a crane mounted on rails with bumpers at each end;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the coupler equipment of my invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial end elevation of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a spring loaded clevis used in my invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of controls of my invention; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic wiring diagram of other controls of my invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 2 indicates a track consisting of spaced rails each having a bumper 4 at each end. A crane 6 is adapted to move along the rails 2 in the usual manner. The crane 6 has a truck 8 at each corner which supports a compressible bumper 10 which contacts the associated stationary end bumper 4 in the usual manner.

According to my invention a stationary coupler half 12 is mounted on top of each bumper 4 which is adapted to connect with a movable coupler half 14 mounted on the associated truck 8. The couplers are of a standard type such as a Willison Automatic Coupler No. 37646 sold by Midland-Ross Corporation. Since the couplers and mountings are the same except for being arranged right and left hand only one will be described in detail. A coupler support 16 is bolted to the top of bumper 4 and by means of a vertical pivot pin 18 pivotally supports the stationary coupler half 12. A support 20 is attached to truck 8 and carries a vertical pivot pin 22 which pivotally supports shank 148 of coupler half 14. A vertical pin 24 mounted on support 20 limits horizontal movement of the coupler half 14. A lock including a spring loaded operating lever 28 locks the parts of the coupling together. As shown in FIG. 3, the lever 28 is connected by means of a chain or other flexible member 30 to one end of a lever arm 32 which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a pin supported by bracket 34. The other end of lever 32 is connected by means of a chain 36 to solenoid bar 38b .operable by solenoid coil 380. The bracket 34 and solenoid 38 are mounted on shank 148. A bracket 40 (FIGS. 2 and 4) is attached to and extends horizontally from one side of support 20. A cylinder 42 is pivotally connected to the outer end of bracket 40 and has a piston rod 44 extending therefrom toward shank 14S. Spaced brackets 46 attached to shank 148 on the side opposite cylinder 42 carries a pin 48. The piston rod 44 is connected to pin 48 by means of a double acting spring loaded clevis 50 which extends through a hole 52 in the shank 148. As shown in FIG. 5 the clevis 50 includes a shaft 53 surrounded by a spring 54 which bears against spaced plates 56. A hollow plunger 58 surrounds shaft 53 and spring 54 and is movable with respect thereto. The cylinder 42 is preferably an elec-. tric cylinder Type SMX-OS manufactured by Raco Machine Company, but an air or hydraulic cylinder or other type of motor could be substituted therefor. While the generic numeral 42 is used to identify the cylinder, it will be understood that four cylinders are used. These are identified as 42Nl, 42N2, 4281 and 4282.

As shown in FIG. 6 power for operating the four cylinders 42N 1, 42N2, 4281 and 4282 is supplied from power source L1, L2, L3. A switch 60 having six contacts controls movement of cylinders 42Nl and 42N2. A similar switch 64 controls movement of cylinders 4281 and 4282. In the position shown the switches 60 and 64 cause the cylinders to move to inoperative position. Moving the switches 60 downwardly so that the upper three contacts are closed reverses movement of the cylinders to operative position.

Power for energizing solenoid coils 380 is supplied from power source L4, L5. A switch 68 controls power to the solenoids mounted on the north side of the crane and switch 70 controls power to the solenoids mounted on the south side of the crane. The switches 60 to 70 are located in the cranes cabin.

In normal operation, all of the movable coupler halves 14 will be in their retracted broken line position of FIG. 2 out'of line with the stationary coupler halves l2 and the solenoids 38 will be deenergized. It will be noted that the arrangement of the coupler halves and bumpers is such that the crane bumpers cannot contact when the coupler halves are in alignment, but in retracted position the crane bumpers 10 can contact the end bumpers 4 in the usual manner. Assuming that the crane runs north and south and that it is desired to secure the crane to the north end of the runway, the crane operator depresses the switch 60 to close its upper contacts to each cylinder. This causes the coupler halves 14 at the north end of the crane to swing to their operative position in line with the coupler halves 12. The crane proceeds forward until the halves of the coupler connect in their usual manner. The spring loaded clevis 50 absorbs any side thrust from the coupler half 14 as it engages the coupler half 12. During engagement, the coupler half 14 will pivot slightly, causing the clevis 50 to be either extended or compressed as much as one-half inch, thus protecting the cylinder 42 from damage.

To free the crane, the operator closes switch 68 to energize the solenoids 38 at the north end of the crane. This moves the levers 32 in a counter clockwise direction which releases levers 28 so as to unlock the connections between the coupler halves. The crane is then backed away from the bumpers and the switch 68 opened to deenergize solenoids 38, thus permitting the spring loaded release levers 28 to return to normal position. The switch 60 is then raised to cause the coupler halves 14 at the north end of the crane to swing out of alignment with the fixed halves 12 as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. The crane can then be operated in its usual manner. To secure the crane to the south end of the runway, the operation is the same except that switches 64 and 70 are actuated in place of switches 60 and 68.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. [n the combination of a crane having a bumper at one end, a track along which said crane travels, and a second bumper at the end of said track adapted to be contacted by said first bumper, at least one of said bumpers being compressible: the improvement which comprises a pair of matching coupler halves; means on said crane for mounting the first of said coupler halves adjacent said first bumper, said mounting means comprising a support on said crane having its top above said first bumper, a vertical pivot pin mounted on said support, and a shank connected at one end to said first coupier half and at its other end to said vertical pivot for movement about the axis of said pivot pin; means for mounting the second of said coupler halves adjacent said second bumper; and means for moving one of said coupler halves between an operative position in line with the other coupler half and an inoperative position out of line with the other coupler half, said moving means comprising a cylinder having a piston rod, means for pivotally mounting said cylinder for movement about a vertical axis, and means including a double acting spring loaded clevis connecting the free end of said piston rod to said shank, said coupler halves when engaged preventing substantial longitudinal movement of said crane in either direction, the length of said coupler halves when engaged being such as to provide a space between the adjacent ends of said bumpers whereby they prevent engagement of said 22 299;--. M

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which the bumpers, coupling halves, and ma malian? 55a operating means therefor are duplicated at the opposite end of said crane.

3. in the combination of a crane having a b uiiiper at second bumper at the end of said track adapted to be bumpers being compressible: the improvement which comprises a pair of matching coupler halves; means on 9 said crane for mounting the first of said coupler halves adjacent said first bumper, said mounting means com- I prising a support on said crane having its top above said first bumper, a vertical pivot pin mounted on said support, and a shank connected at one end to said first coupler half and at its other end to said vertical pivot pin for movement about the axis of said pivot pin; means for mounting the second of said coupler halves adjacent said second bumper; means for moving one of said coupler halves between an operative position in line with the other coupler half and an inoperative position out of line with the other coupler half, said moving means comprising a cylinder having a piston rod, means for pivotally mounting said cylinder for movement about a vertical axis, and means connecting the free end of said piston rod to said shank; a solenoid mounted on top of said shank; a bracket mounted on top of said shank between said solenoid and first coupler half;,a locking lever associated with said first coupler half movable about a horizontal axis; a leveg arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said bracket for movement in a vertical plane andhaving its ends adjacent said solenoid and locking lever; flexible means connecting said solenoid to the end of said lever arm adjacent thereto; and flexible means connecting said locking lever to the end of said lever arm adjacent thereto, said coupler halves when engaged preventing substantial longitudinal movement of said crane in either direction, the length of said coupler halves when engaged being such as to provide a space between the adjacent ends of said bumpers whereby they prevent engagement of said bumpers.

4. A combination as defined in claim 3 in which the bumpers, coupling halves, and the mounting and operating means therefor are duplicated at the opposite end of said crane.

5. The combination of claim 3 in which said means connecting the free end of said piston rod to said shank includes a double acting spring loaded clevis.

' K i i 

1. In the combination of a crane having a bumper at one end, a track along which said crane travels, and a second bumper at the end of said track adapted to be contacted by said first bumper, at least one of said bumpers being compressible: the improvement which comprises a pair of matching coupler halves; means on said crane for mounting the first of said coupler halves adjacent said first bumper, said mounting means comprising a support on said crane having its top above said first bumper, a vertical pivot pin mounted on said support, and a shank connected at one end to said first coupler half and at its other end to said vertical pivot pin for movement about the axis of said pivot means; means for mounting the second of said coupler halves adjacent said second bumper; and means for moving one of said coupler halves between an operative position in line with the other coupler half and an inoperative position out of line with the other coupler half, said moving means comprising a cylinder having a piston rod, means for pivotally mounting said cylinder for movement about a vertical axis, and means including a double acting spring loaded clevis connecting the free end of said piston rod to said shank, said coupler halves when engaged preventing substantial longitudinal movement of said crane in either direction, the length of said coupler halves when engaged being such as to provide a space between the adjacent ends of said bumpers whereby they prevent engagement of said bumpers.
 2. The combination of claim 1 which includes a third bumper on said crane at the end opposite said first bumper; a fourth bumper at the end of said track opposite said second bumper and adapted to be contacted by said third bumper; a second pair of matching coupler halves; means on said crane for mounting the first of said coupler halves of said second pair adjacent said third bumper; means for mounting the second of said coupler halves of said second pair adjacent said fourth bumper, said mounting means for said third coupler halves comprising a support on said crane having its top above said third bumper, a vertical pivot pin mounted on said support, and a shank connected at one end to said third coupler half and its other end to said vertical pivot pin for movement about the axis of said pivot means; and means for moving one of said second pair of coupler halves between an operative position in line with the other coupler half and an inoperative position out of line with the other coupler half which comprises a cylinder having a piston rod, means for pivotally mounting said cylinder for movement about a vertical axis, and means including a double acting spring loaded clevis connecting the free end of said piston rod to said shank.
 3. The combination of claim 1 which includes a third bumper on said crane at the end opposite said first bumper; a fourth bumper at the end of said track opposite said second bumper and adapted to be contacted by said third bumper; a second pair of matching coupler halves; means on said crane for mounting the first of said coupler halves of said second pair adjacent said third bumper; means for mounting the second of said coupler halves of said second pair adjacent said fourth bumper, said mounting means for said third coupler halves comprising a support on said crane having its top above said third bumper, a vertical pivot pin mounted on said support, and a shank connected at one end to said third coupler half and at Its other end to said vertical pivot pin for movement about the axis of said pivot means; means for moving one of said second pair of coupler halves between an operative position in line with the other coupler half and an inoperative position out of line with the other coupler half which comprises a cylinder having a piston rod, means for pivotally mounting said cylinder for movement about a vertical axis, and means connecting the free end of said piston rod to said shank; a solenoid mounted on top of said last named shank; a bracket mounted on top of said last named shank between said solenoid and said third coupler half; a locking lever associated with said third coupler half movable about a horizontal axis; a lever arm pivotally mounted adjacent its ends on said bracket for vertical movement and having its ends adjacent said solenoid and locking lever; flexible means connecting said solenoid to the end of said lever arm adjacent thereto; and flexible means connecting said locking lever to the end of said lever arm adjacent thereto.
 4. The combination of claim 3 in which each of said means connecting the free end of said piston rod to said shank includes a double acting spring loaded clevis.
 5. In the combination of a crane having a bumper at one end, a track along which said crane travels, and a second bumper at the end of said track adapted to be contacted by said first bumper, at least one of said bumpers being compressible: the improvement which comprises a pair of matching coupler halves; means on said crane for mounting the first of said coupler halves adjacent said first bumper, said mounting means comprising a support on said crane having its top above said first bumper, a vertical pivot pin mounted on said support, and a shank connected at one end to said first coupler half and at its other end to said vertical pivot pin for movement about the axis of said pivot means; means for mounting the second of said coupler halves adjacent said second bumper; means for moving one of said coupler halves between an operative position in line with the other coupler half and an inoperative position out of line with the other coupler half, said moving means comprising a cylinder having a piston rod, means for pivotally mounting said cylinder for movement about a vertical axis, and means connecting the free end of said piston rod to said shank; a solenoid mounted on top of said shank; a bracket mounted on top of said shank between said solenoid and said first coupler half; a locking lever associated with said first coupler half movable about a horizontal axis; a lever arm pivotally mounted adjacent its ends on said bracket for vertical movement and having its ends adjacent said solenoid and locking lever; flexible means connecting said solenoid to the end of said lever arm adjacent thereto; and flexible means connecting said locking lever to the end of said lever arm adjacent thereto, said coupler halves when engaged preventing substantial longitudinal movement of said crane in either direction, the length of said coupler halves when engaged being such as to provide a space between the adjacent ends of said bumpers whereby they prevent engagement of said bumpers.
 6. The combination of claim 5 in which said means connecting the free end of said piston rod to said shank includes a double acting spring loaded clevis. 